Dr. Euan Ashley, cardiologist at Stanford specializing in inherited cardiovascular disease led the team that carried out the 1st clinical interpretation of a human genome and eventually the 1st whole genome molecular autopsy. Dr. Ashley has received innovation awards from the NIH & AMA, recognized by the Obama White House and received the Medal of Honor from the American Heart Association.
This is a fascinating nonfiction medical book on genomics on when it first emerged and how it has evolved over the past decade, how it has helped families along the way & where it’s headed. It is a field that will become one of our strongest assets in medicine & one day be readily available to patients. As a physician, I’ll open your medical chart, see your medical history, family history & your genome so I can tailor your treatment to your individual needs. How does this work?
It’s complicated but Dr. Ashley breaks it down in layman’s terms (although it can still get confusing!) in his book. But in short, an individual’s genome will provide answers as to what medicines will work for them specifically rather than in general. For example, let’s say you have high blood pressure- your doctor will give you the specific medicine that YOUR body metabolizes best and works best for you. This is precision medicine.
The Genome Odyssey is broken into 4 sections: The Early Genomes, Disease Detectives, Affairs of the Heart & Precisely Accurate Medicine. My favorite section is Affairs of the Heart because these are real stories about real patients. The agonizing years of searching for an answer is given to them by way of genomics. These stories are the reason why I personally went into medicine. Yes, I’m intrigued by the science but my heart is in the human experience & their lives.
I was trained at Johns Hopkins – and just by simply being there I saw more “Zebras” than most – by that I mean I saw unique, uncommon diseases and it was enthralling to see the things you read about in books – in front of you in the form of real patients. Reading this book, takes me right back to residency. I am in awe of the true brilliance of these scientists that Dr. Ashley speaks so highly of.
Scientists are not only sequencing human genomes but pathogens as well. He concludes with the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had on millions of lives and how the heaviest artillery in this fight is genomics. Incredible isn’t it?
Thank you Celadon Books & Dr. Euan Ashley for sending me this ARC.
This is a fascinating nonfiction medical book on genomics on when it first emerged and how it has evolved over the past decade, how it has helped families along the way & where it’s headed. It is a field that will become one of our strongest assets in medicine & one day be readily available to patients. As a physician, I’ll open your medical chart, see your medical history, family history & your genome so I can tailor your treatment to your individual needs. How does this work?
It’s complicated but Dr. Ashley breaks it down in layman’s terms (although it can still get confusing!) in his book. But in short, an individual’s genome will provide answers as to what medicines will work for them specifically rather than in general. For example, let’s say you have high blood pressure- your doctor will give you the specific medicine that YOUR body metabolizes best and works best for you. This is precision medicine.
The Genome Odyssey is broken into 4 sections: The Early Genomes, Disease Detectives, Affairs of the Heart & Precisely Accurate Medicine. My favorite section is Affairs of the Heart because these are real stories about real patients. The agonizing years of searching for an answer is given to them by way of genomics. These stories are the reason why I personally went into medicine. Yes, I’m intrigued by the science but my heart is in the human experience & their lives.
I was trained at Johns Hopkins – and just by simply being there I saw more “Zebras” than most – by that I mean I saw unique, uncommon diseases and it was enthralling to see the things you read about in books – in front of you in the form of real patients. Reading this book, takes me right back to residency. I am in awe of the true brilliance of these scientists that Dr. Ashley speaks so highly of.
Scientists are not only sequencing human genomes but pathogens as well. He concludes with the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had on millions of lives and how the heaviest artillery in this fight is genomics. Incredible isn’t it?
Thank you Celadon Books & Dr. Euan Ashley for sending me this ARC.